Wringer-control mechanism



April 10, 1928. 1,665,263

C. HIRSCHY ET AL WRINGER CONTROL MECHANISM Filed April 1'7, 1925 fies I NVE/V TORG Patented Apr. 10, 1928.

UNITED STATES acetate PATENT. I oFF c HERMAN G. HIRSCHY, OF DULUTH, AND RALPH C. HITCHCOCK, MINNEAIOLIS, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNORS TO THE HIRSCHY COMPANY, OF DULUTH, MINNESOTA, A.

CORPORATION OF MINNESOTA.

WRINGER-CONTROL MECHANISM.

Application filed April 17, 1925. Serial No. 23,905.

This invention relates to an improved control mechanism for power-driven wringers and more particularly to such a device which functions to lock the wringer in its adjusted positions and also to shift the operating mechanism to operatively connect the wringer rolls with or disconnect them from a driven member or shaft.

Clothes wringers such as are commonly used in connection with power washing machines are usually pivotally mounted upon a post or standard supported by the frameof the washing machine. The mounting of the wringer upon its supporting means is usually such that the wringer may be adjusted or swung to a plurality of positions about a given center, this center usually being the axis of the wringer drive shaft. The purpose of thus adjustably mounting the wringer upon the frame of the washlng machine is to provide means whereby the wringer maybe shifted or swung from a position over the machine tub to a position over a laundry tub or other device, without the necessity of having to move or shift the position of the washing machine upon the floor. Such clothes wringers are therefore usually provided with two control levers,

one for locking the wringer in its adjusted positions and the other for shifting the clutch mechanism to start and stop the wringer rolls.

The necessity of having two such control levers to control the operation of a power clothes wringer has been found objectionable and sometimes dangerous in that there is always a possibility of the wringer-locking bolt or latch becoming unlocked while the wringer is operating under load, thereby allowing the wringer to be forcibly swung around its pivotal point caused by the action of the drive gears thereof. It is therefore desirable that means he provided whereby the wringer drive mechanism cannot possibly be actuated to drive the wringer rolls while the wringer locking bolt or latch is in unlocked position.

The novel wringer control mechanism featured in this invention is so constructed that the wringer rolls cannot possibly be started while the locking bolt is in unlocking position. Its construction is such that the lockwringer rolls to be;rotated. This novel c'ontrol mechanism is also provided with means whereby the wringer rolls after having been started must be brought to a stdp before the locking bolt can be moved from locking into unlocking position to permit the swinging of the wringer from one position to another. The starting and stopping of the wringer rolls, and also the locking of the wringer in its adjusted positions, is accomplished by a single control lever, thereby providing a control mechanism which may be conveniently operated and actuated by the use of one hand thereby allowing the operator the use of the other hand for guiding the clothes through the wringer rolls or other purposes.

The particular object of the invention therefore is to provide a wringer control mechanism of simple and inexpensive construction which will be foolproof and positive in action and which may be controlled by a single control lever.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the-fol1owing description and the accompanying drawings and will be pointed out in the annexed claims. g

In the drawings; there has been disclosed a structure designed to carry out the various objects of the invention, but it is to be understood that the invention is not con-v fined to the exact features shown as various changes may be. made within the scope of the claims which follow.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification,

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional View on the line 11 of Figure 3 showing the general construction of; the operating mechanism,

same being shown in inoperative or neutral 2 is a bottom view of the control is a horizontal sectional view on V Figures 5, 6 and 7 are similar detail views showing the parts in different positions;

Figure 8 is a plan view of the upper portion of the wringer supporting post or member showing the apertures provided therein for receiving the locking bolt to lock the. wringer in its'adjusted positions.

In the selected embodiment of the invention here shown, for purposes of disclosure, there is illustrated a common form of wringer comprising the usual rolls 11 and 12 mounted in a frame 13 secured to the wringer control head. The rolls 11 and 12 are driven from a shaft 14 through the usual pinions 15 and 16 as shown in Figure 1. In wrin ers of this type, the upper roll 11 is usua y provided with suitable tension means for" exerting a downward pressure thereagainst, but as the wringer forms no part of the present invention, such means are not shown in the drawings.

The novel control mechanism featured in this invention preferably consists of an integral casting or head 17 which is shaped to form a housing to receive the operating mechanism. A reduced portion or neck 18 is preferably provided on sthe lower wall of the housingv 17 and has a circular flange 19 provided on the-lower end thereof adapted to be seated upon an annular flange 21 provided upon or secured to the upright post 22 of the washin machine frame. The post 22 is preferably ol lo'w and has a drive shaft 23 rotatably mounted therein which is driven from a suitable drive mechanism mounted upon the washing machine, and which mechanism is not shown in the drawings. The post 22 is rovided with an upwardly extending cy indrical end-portion 24 which is adapted to be received in a bore 25 provided in the neck 18 of the housing, thereby to provide a pivotal connection between the wringer and washing machine frame.

A socket 26, preferably square in cross section, is terminally provided in the drive shaft 23 and is adapted to receive the squared end-portion 27 of an upright clutch shaft 28 mounted in bearings 29 and 30 rovided in the lower and upper walls of t e housing 17 B thus operatively connecting the clutch sha t 28 with the drive shaft 23 by means of the uared end-portion 27 and socket 26, it wil be noted that the entire wringer and its operating mechanism including the housing. 17, may readily and conveniently be detached from the washing machine by simply upwardly lifting the wringer and the housing. In like manner, the wringer and its operating mechanism may conveniently be mounted upon the post 22 of the washing machine frame by simply inserting the cylindrical extension 24 into the socket 25 and also the squared end-portion 27 of the clutch shaft 28 into the socket I 26 in the drive shaft. As shown in Figure'l,

downward thrust of the clutch shaft 28 is preferably taken up by a suitable thrust washer 20 and a split lock ring 40 demountably seated in an annular groove provided in the shaft adjacent the upper end thereof.

A beveled pinion 31 is rotatably mounted upon the clutch shaft 28 adjacent the hearing 29 and a similar pinion 32 is also mounted upon the clutch shaft 28 adjacent the upper bearin 30. The upper portion of the clutch sha t is preferably turned dowil, as shown in Figure 1, to provide a shoulder 33 which functions to retain the pinion 32 in its proper position with relation to the car 34 with which the two pinions beveled intermes A; gear 34 is suitably secured to the driven shaft 14; which is mounted in a bearing 35 provided in one of the walls of the housing 17. Thus, it'will be seen that ably mounted upon the clutch shaft 28 between the beveled pinions 31 and 32, and is prevented from relative rotation thereon by means of the flattened surfaces 37 provided on opposite sides of the clutch shaft, as particularly shown in Figure 3. Clutch teeth or jaws 38 and 39 are provided on the pinions 31 and 32, respectively, so that when the clutchmember 36 is moved into opera-- tive connection with the jaws of either one of the pinions, power will be transmitted from the clutch shaft 28 through the jaws of the clutch to one of the pinions, and thence through the gear 34 to the shaft 14.

The means provided for actuating the clutch member 36 preferably resides in the provision of a block 41 which is pivotally mounted upon a crank pin 42 carried by a' Y crank 43 which is secured to a control shaft 44 as shown in Figures 1 and 3. The control shaft 44 is mounted in a bearing 45 provided in the wall of the housing and has a control lever 46 terminally secured thereto by means of a nut 47. A hand grip 48 is provided on the lever 46 for the convenience of the operator in shifting the lever from one position to another. By means of the above-described mechanism, it will readily be noted that when the lever 48 is shifted from its vertical position as shown in Figure' 1 to the full line position shown in Figure 7, that the clutch operating block 41 will be moved from the position shown in Figure 1 to that shown in Figure 7 thereby shifting the clutch member 36 into driving connection with the jaws 39-011 the upper inion 32. Such operation of the control ever will cause the driven shaft 14 "to be driven in one direction, while if the clutch member 36 is shifted into driving connection driven shaft 14 will be rotated in the op osite direction, thereby providing means or controlling the direction of rotation of the two wringer rolls 11 and 12. I

An important feature of this invention resides in the novel means provided for ositively preventing the wringer rolls rom being operatively connected to the drive shaft 23 until after the wringer has been locked in one of its adjusted positions. The means provided for obtaining the above desired control is accomplished by operatively connecting to the control lever 46, the means provided for locking the wringer in its adjusted positions-so that the latter must be actuated before the clutch member 36 is moved into driving connection with one of the pinions 31 or 32. The means provided for locking the wringer in its adjusted positions consists of a locking bolt 49 mounted in a socket 51 provided in the reduced portion orneck 18 of the housing. The lower end of the locking bolt is preferably slightly tapered, as shown in 'the drawings, so that it may" readily enter one of the apertures 52 provided in the annular flange 21 of the supporting post or standard 22 (see Fig. 8). The ma or portion of the locking bolt 49 is preferably reduced in diameter as shown so as to provide a shoulder 53. A compression spring 54 is mounted in the socket 51 and is coiled about the locking'bolt so as to have its lower end' bearing against the shoulder 53 and its upper end seated in the bottom of the socket, thereby tending to downwardly force the locking bolt against the flange 21 or into one of the apertures 52.

The means provided for actuating the locking bolt 49 consists preferably of an L- shaped member 55 having its lower horizontal portion apertured to receive the upper end of the locking bolt as shown-in Figures 1, 4, 5, and 6. A pin 56 is mounted in the upper end of the locking bolt so that when the L-shaped member 55 is upwardly moved, the locking bolt will be moved therewith. An elongated opening 57 is provided in the L-shaped member 55 to receive'the control shaft 44 as clearly shown in Figure 1. An anti-friction roller 58 is mounted upon a stud 59 secured to the upper end of the member 55. This roller is adapted to ride upon the surface of a cam member 61 mounted upon the control shaft 44 and preferably integrally formed with the crank arm 43 (see Figures 1 and 3). The cam member61 is rovided with a high or neutral point 62 whic when the control lever is in neutral position as shown in Figures 1 and 4, will cause the roller 58, and therefore the L-shaped member 55 to be raised to the position shown withthe result that the lower end of the locking bolt 49 Wlll be moved out of engagement with the annular flange 21 of the post 22. .When thus positioned, the

clutch member 36 will be in neutral positionand the wringer will be inoperative, also when thus positioned, the wringer may be swung from one position to another about the axis of the drive shaft 23 as a center. Before the wringer rolls can bestarted, the control lever 46 must be moved from the vertical position shown in Figures 1 and 4 to the horizontal full line position shown in Figures 6 and 7 Such movement of the control lever, however, cannot be completed unless the locking bolt 49 is in alignment with one of the apertures 52 in the flange 21 so that the bolt may be inserted into'one of the apertures as shown in Figures 6 and 7 The means provided for thus preventing the complete movement of the control lever should the locking bolt be out of alignment with one of the apertures 52, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, consists in the provision of a pair of stop lugs 63 provided on the lower portion of the cam member 61. These lugs are adapted to engage the upper end of the locking bolt 49 when the latter is in the position shown in Figures 4 and 5. In moving the control lever from the neutral position, shown in Figures 1 and'4 to the full line position shown in Figure 5, the clutch member 36 will be moved from the full line position to one of the dotted line positions shown in Figure 1, wherein it will be noted that it will still be out of contact with the teeth of both of the beveled pinions 31 and 32. Further movement however, will be prevented as a result of one of the lugs 53 engaging or contacting with the upper end of the locking bolt. After the lever has been moved to the position shown in Figure 5, the operator may swing the wringer about the shaft 23 until the lower end of the locking bolt is brought into alignment with one of the apertures 22 after which the spring 54' be lowered into such aperture with the'result that the movement of the lever. maybe completed to actuate the clutch mechanlsm to start the wringer rolls. F gures 6 and 7 show the clutch lever and parts in operative position. By referrin particularly to Figure 6, it will be noted that the stop lugs 63 on the cam member 61 also function as a means for limiting the movement of the control lever.

When it is desired to stop the wringer rolls, the control lever will first be moved from the position shown in full lines, Figures 6 and 7, to the full line position shown in Figure trol lever will be sufiicient to move the clutch member 36 out of driving connection with one of-the pinions 31 and 32, but which movement, however, will be-insufiicient to cause the locking bolt to be moved out of Such movement of the conengagement with its complementary aper-. ture 52 in the flange 21. The final upward movement of the lever from .the full line position shown in Figure 5, to that shown in Figures 1 and 4 will cause the locking bolt to be upwardly moved to the position shown in Figures 1 and 4, after which the wringer may be swung to any one of its adjusted positions.

From the foregoing, therefore, it will readily be seen and understood that by the employment of this novel control mechanism in conjunction with a power driven wringer and washing machine, it will be impossible for the wringer rolls to be started before the wringer has been locked in one of its adjustedpositions. Also, after the Wringer rolls have been started, the clutch mechanism must be movedto release position to stop the rotation of the wringer rolls before the'locking bolt is moved sufliciently to cause the wringer to be unlocked to permit its adjustment from one position to another.

The housing 17 is preferably open on opposite sides,as shown in Figure 3, in order to gain access to the interior thereof. These openings may be conveniently closed by means of suitable closures 64. Various changes and modifications may be made in the various details of the construction herein shown without departing from the scope of the invention.

We claim as our invention:

1. A wringer adapted for adjustment to different working positions and having a roll-driving mechanism including a controlclutch, a locking member for holding said wringer in adjusted positions, a rock-shaft for operating the clutch and having a cam thereon, means for normally holding said locking member ;in its locking position, means connected with the locking member and adapted to be actuated by the movement of the cam for moving said locking member to unlocking position when said shaft is rotated to disengage the clutch, said connecting means being further adapted 'for entrainment by the locking member toward the cam as said locking member travels to looking position, and said connecting member being engageable with the cam to limit shaft rotation.

2. A wringer adapted for adjustment to different working positions and having a roll-driving mechanism including a control 'ing posltion.

3. A wringer comprising a pair of rolls and a driving means therefor, a rock-shaft,

a control lever thereon, a cam mounted on said rock-shaft, a locking member for locking said wringer in its adjusted positions, means connected to said locking member and guided by said shaft, and actuated by said cam to move said locking-member to its un locking position, and means normally tending to move said locking member to its lock- 4:. A wringer adapted for adjustment to different working positions and having a roll driving mechanism including a control 5. A wringer mounted for adjustment in different working positions, a roll driving mechanism, a rock-shaft operatively' connected with said mechanism for shifting it to its working and non-working positions, said shaft having a cam, said cam having lugs thereon, a lock device for holding the wringer: in its working positions, means actuated by the movementof the cam for completely' unlocking said lock device following clutch, a locking member for holding said the movement of said driving mechanism sub- 1 stantially toits non-working position, said lock device in its unlocked positions being preventing the adjustment of said driving mechanism to its working position until said lock device is returned to its locking pos tion.

in the path of one of the said cam lugs and 6. A wringer mounted for adjustment in different working positions, a driving me'Chanism for the wringer including a. clutch, a locking member for positively holding said wringer in any one of its adjusted positions, control means for said driving mechanism including a rock-shaft and a cam secured to said shaft, and link means slidable upon said shaft and cooperating with said cam and locking member for moving said lockin member when the control means is operated for throwing said clutch out of its working I position.

7. Awringer adapted for adjustment to different working positions and having a roll-driving mechanism including a control holding said locking member in its locking position, and link means connected with said locking member and actuatable by the movement of said cam for moving said locking member to its unlocking position after said control clutch is disengaged, said cam-operated means adapted to be moved to release the locking member for automatic locking engagement during adjustment of the wrmger.

8. A wringer adjustably mounted, a transmission mechanism for the'wringer including a clutch, means for locking the wringer in adjusted position, a rock-shaft for controlling the clutch, a cam carried by said shaft, and slidable link means actua'table by said cam and slidably connected with said locking means for operating the same, said cam being contoured to only permit disengagement of said locking means after clutch withdrawal and to release the locking means to permit automatic locking action during adjustment of the wringer after clutch disengagement, said cam having lugs enga eable with said locking means as a stop or preventing clutch engagement before automatic release of said locking member to locking position.

9. In a device of the class described, a base, a casing rotatable upon the base, a motionreversing transmission mechanism carried by the casing including a shiftable clutch element, a latch bolt slidable in the casing and adapted for socketed locking engagement with the base by spring pressure, means in-- cluding a rotatable shaft for operating the clutch, a link slidably connected with said bolt and shaft adapted to raise said bolt and to release the same to permit independent movement thereof to locking position, and a cam fixedto the shaft and adapted to translate the link.

10. In a device of the class described, a base, a housing rotatable thereon, transmission mechanism including a clutch, and a rotatable clutch operating means having a cam fixed thereto, a latch bolt engageable to hold the housing against rotation on the base, a link associated with said. cam and bolt and operable by said cam, said cam being contoured to control the'link to permit the bolt to automatically latch after the clutch is in, and to unlatch the bolt only after the clutch is disengaged.

11. A device of the class describ'edcomprising a journal post, a first drive shaft rotatable in said post and having an axially disposed socket in its upper end, said post having a flange with vertical openings therein, a casing rotatable about said post and against said flange, a lock bolt slidable in the casing and forcibly urged toward said flange, a reversing transmission mechanism in said casing including a vertical drive shaft removably but rotatably connected with the socket of the first mentioned shaft, a transmission clutch slidable upon said second shaft, a rotatableclutch control shaft operatively' connected with the clutch and having a cam fixed thereon, a link slidably connected with said control shaft and lock bolt, engageable by the cam and with the lock bolt to completely raise the bolt to nonlocking position above the surface of the flange after the clutch reaches a neutral position, said cam being configurated to allow the link to fall when the lower end of the bolt is engaging the upper surface of the flange, thus conditioning the bolt for automatic unrestricted locking engagement with one of the'openings of the flange as the casing is rotated, the cam being also configurated so as to be engaged by the upper end of said bolt to prevent a clutching-in operation while the bolt'is thus conditioned.

12. A device of the class described comprising a base having openings therein, a housing rotatable upon the base, a lock bolt slidable in the housing and spring pressed toward the base and openings, a transmission mechanism carried by the housing including a clutch and locking bolt and clutch control shaft, said shaft having a cam fixed thereon, a link guided upon the shaft and bolt and engageable by said cam and with said bolt for completely withdrawing the bolt when the control shaft is operated to bring the clutch to disengaged position, said cam configurated for engaging the link to releasably hold the shaft in disengaged position and being additionally configurated to permit independent'gravity movement of the link or positive movement thereof by the bolt to permit the bolt to slide upon the base conditioned for automatic locking engagement with an opening as the casing is rotated, and to forcibly engage the link against the cam and releasably hold the clutch in transmission position after looking engagement of the bolt, said cam having stops thereon respectively engageable with the bolt for preventing clutch engagement spring pressed'towards the base for engagement with an opening, a reversing transmission mechanism carried by the housingincluding a shiftable clutch, and a rotatable clutch-control shaft, hand-operable from a point exteriorly of the casing to control the clutch, 'the shaft axis being intersected by the axis of reciprocation of the bolt, and said shaft having a cam fixed thereon in the plane of the bolt axis, a link slidably guided by said shaft and bolt and engageable by said cam, and with and by said bolt for withdrawing the bolt from an opening and clear of the base when the control shaft is operated to disengage the clutch, said cam being configurated-for engagement with said link to releasably hold the clutch in such disengaged position and further configurated to permit gravity movement of the link and "corresponding independent lowering of the bolt for sliding engagement with the base to condition gle bolt for locking engagement with said 15 ase.

In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands this 13th day of April, 1925.

HERMAN C. HIRSCHY. RALPH C. HITCHCOCK. 

